I have an intermittent problem with my '07 Cooper where when I start the car, I get a power steering indicator on the tach and the power steering doesn't work. Sometimes it takes two or three restarts for the power steering to start. Once it starts, the power steering works just fine and the power steering has never gone out while driving.

I called a couple MINI dealers (I don't live close to one), both of which told me to check the power steering reservoir. There is no power steering reservoir in the R56 and it took a while for them to believe me. Not encouraging. I'm going to take it in next week but since I can't consistently reproduce the problem, I've got a feeling they won't know what to fix. Has anyone else had this problem and if so what did you do to fix it? Also, any ideas on what to try to reproduce the problem consistently?

 

This has happened to me three times in the last month. 1st time I thought it was just me, 2nd and 3rd I realized this may be a problem. I'm going to take it in this week. any updates or anyone else with this issue?

 

Wait! A couple of MINI dealers told you to check the power steering fluid on a car with electric-assist steering? Wow.

 

Thanks for replying. I actually never took the car in as I have been crazy busy trying to finish my Ph.D. and the nearest dealerships are 2 hours away. I plan to do it in the next month or two. The only additional insight I have is that the problem happens more frequently after a long trip. Otherwise, it only seems to happen twice a month or so...

 

I finally got my car into a dealer. There were 186 faults stored on my key so they had to believe there was a problem. They replaced the power steering and I haven't had the problem since. It did take 2 weeks for everything to get done because they had to wait for parts and then part of the computer failed when they were trying to reprogram it. But I had a BMW loaner in the meantime so I can't complain.

 

Can you tell us what part of the computer failed? Just curious.

 

I didn't 100% understand it, but... At one point the car wouldn't start because the portion of the computer that controls ignition had crashed and couldn't be reprogrammed. So they ordered a new CAS module (I don't know how that is spelled) and replaced the old one.

 

wow, steering issues are uncommon on the 2nd gen. maybe those two dealers thought U had a first gen.

 

Power steering has been failing interm for the last 3 weeks. It failed again last night and would not reset after multiple starts. Had it towed to dealer this AM. Not Good.

 

I feel your pain. Hopefully you won't have to wait too long for parts.

 

any updates? im having the same problem. Power steering has been failing the past few months. Usually I could just restart the engine and it would turn back on. Today though, after a coupon of restarts it simply wouldn't work. Scheduled an appointment for repair with dealer, I assume the mechanical warranty covers this?